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Food Safety

Food waste reduction targets

About the targets

In order to accelerate the EU's progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, the Commission is proposing to set legally binding food waste reduction targets to be achieved by Member States by 2030, as part of the revision of the Waste Framework Directive, adopted by the Commission on 5 July 2023. The results of the first EU-wide monitoring of food waste levels carried out in 2020 will serve as a baseline to assess progress towards the targets.

More specifically, Member States are required to take the necessary measures to reduce food waste by the end of 2030:

  • by 10%, in processing and manufacturing,
  • by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households).

The legislative proposal, amending the Waste Framework Directive, provides for a formal review of progress made by Member States, by the end of 2027. The Commission will then carry out a formal review of progress made by Member States including the possibility to adapt targets if evidence suggests that the EU can contribute even more towards the global ambition.

The Joint Research Centre has contributed to the preparation of the Impact Assessment supporting the legislative proposal, by gathering data on food waste prevention activities and by analysing the environmental,economic and social impacts of different target levels.

The Commission's legislative proposal will now be subject to negotiation with the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in view of its adoption by colegislators according to the ordinary legislative procedure (codecision).

The legislative proposal is open for feedback for a period of 8 week(s) on the Have your say! portal (this feedback period is being extended every day until this adopted proposal is available in all EU languages). All feedback received will be summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate.

Links to the legislative proposal and related impact assessment report:

More information on the public consultation

Citizens’ panel

For the first time, the Commission organised Citizens' panels in order to exchange views with citizens and harness their insights on how to step up action to reduce food waste in the EU. The first Citizens' panel met between December 2022 and February 2023 to discuss food waste. The outcome of this panel are citizens' recommendations to support the Commission's work on food waste, including the legislative proposal to set EU food waste reduction targets. These recommendations also serve as a guide to help Member States in achieving the future targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

See a selection of FAQs on the subject of "Reducing food waste in the EU"